bade
Tessa and Harvey farewell and went ashore, and half an hour later
the steamer had left the island, and was heading north-west for the
Carolines.

CHAPTER III

Five days out from Drummond's Island Carr had so much improved in health
that he was able to take his seat at the saloon table for breakfast,
much to the annoyance of Chard, who had been making the best of his time
in trying to produce a favourable impression upon Tessa Remington.
He pretended, however, to be delighted to see the trader mending so
rapidly, and was most effusive in his congratulations; and Hendry, of
course, followed suit. Harvey responded civilly enough, while Tessa,
who had learned from the chief mate of the treacherous part they were
playing towards her friend, could not repress a scornful curl of her lip
as she listened to Chard's jocular admonition to Harvey, "to hurry up
and put on some flesh, if only for the reputation of the cook of the
_Motutapu_."

Immediately after breakfast Carr went on deck again, and began to pace
to and fro, enjoying the bright tropic sunshine and the cool breath of
the trade wind. In a few minutes Tessa, accompanied by her native woman
servant, appeared, followed by Chard and Captain Hendry.

"Won't you come on the bridge, Miss Remington?" said Chard, "I'll take a
chair up for you."

"No, thank you," she replied, "I would rather sit here under the
awning."

The supercargo and Hendry went up on the bridge together, where
they could talk freely. The man at the wheel was a thick-set, rather
stupid-looking native from Niue (Savage Island), who took no notice of
their remarks, or at least appeared not to do so. But Huka was not such
a fool as he looked.

"_You'll_ stand little chance with her," said Hendry presently, in his
usual low but sneering tones as he tugged viciously at his beard.

The supercargo's black eyes contracted, "Wait and see, before you talk.
I tell you that I mean to make that girl marry me."

"_Marry_ you!"

"Yes, marry me. The old man will leave her pretty well everything
he has, and he has a lot. I've been making inquiries, and am quite
satisfied."

"How are you going to do it?"

"Don't know just yet. Must think it out. But I never yet knew the woman
whom I could not work my own way with--by fair means or foul, as the
penny novelists say."

"It strikes me that she likes that damned fellow. Look round presently
and see for yourself. She's reading to him."

"Bah! That's